Dollars For Scents

Summer fragrance -- the smell of fresh cut grass, flowers, the sea air -- exquisite.  Then, there's car exhaust, rotting garbage and sweaty strangers packed together in a subway car slipping against one another as the train jostles them around.  Okay, that wasn't meant to sound like a Danielle Steel novel, but if you want to picture Fabio, go ahead. 

heehee...

I'm not a fan of "The Fab," but there's never anyone even remotely romance "novelesque" squished up against me in that subway car!  Murphy's Law, I always get stuck with the smelly guy -- the one who needs to take a shower or the one who smells like he showered in Hai Karate or bathed in Drakkar Noir.  If you ever needed an excuse to start wearing perfume, summer in the city is a good one.  Just don't overdo it!  And don't wear the cheap stuff, spend a little more cash on something refined and subtle.

I particularly like Prada for everyday since I find it to be light and soft.  I wish it lasted a bit longer, but that could just be my personal body chemistry.  Speaking of that, I once had a guy tell me that I should bottle my scent because I'd make millions.  If anyone can help me figure out how to package and market it, I'd be more than willing to share the wealth!

Prada--blend of: mandarin, vanilla, rose absolute, labdanum, bergamont, tonka bean, bitter orange, and sandalwood

I also love Agent Provacateur, but I tend to wear it in the evenings as I find it a bit stronger than the Prada. The packaging is fab and their lingerie is even more fab, so how can you go wrong?  But, perhaps I'm just partial to it because Jospeh Corré (the founder) is the son of British designer, Vivienne Westwood and the late Malcolm McLaren.

AP purse spray

And since I'm a packaging whore fanatic, I still keep a couple of bottles of Bulgari around even though I don't love the scent (for me).  But, that doesn't mean they aren't sublime for someone else.

Bulgari Black and Bulgari Blue

(Bulgari "Bitch Slap" not pictured)

What are some of your favorite fragrances?  Men, you can play too!  I'm dying to hear from my amazing, beauty editor pal, Candice Sabatini.  Candice regularly attends Sniffapalooza and she has quite the nose! 

Bye for now taffetadarlings!  Smell ya later!  LOL

Is There A Silver Lining?

My Fall Collection is causing friction.  Immediately after my show, two of my friends ran back stage to try on the silver motorcycle jacket  -- the first look down the runway.  Jewelry designer and blogger, WendyB, has been a faithful client of mine for a while now, so I certainly have to get her a jacket of her own.  Beauty editor and good friend, Candice Sabatini jokingly said to Wendy, "We'll have to fight for it."  I'm thrilled at the response this little sample stirred up just minutes after it appeared on the catwalk, but I don't want anyone to get hurt!

Left: Wendy Brandes poses in my silver jacket

Right: Candice Sabatini in the silver sample

Photos: Randy Brooke

Several days later, I began putting my lookbook together and thought what a great piece it would be to get into Barney's!  I'm aiming high my taffetadarlings!  Why not?  I love all of my "babies" from my fall line, but I do think this one has a wide range of appeal.  Perhaps it's the "dress me up, dress me down" aspect of the design, perhaps it's the shape, or the fabric. Or maybe it's just simply, cool!

Model: Polina Mawuli

Photos: Randy Brooke

Last Friday I participated in a charity fashion show (more on that later) for the tsunami victims in Japan.  There were other designers showing as well, including two menswear designers, therefore, there were male models present.  Bonus!  Anyway, I became friendly with a few of them and one in particular, Justin Rinehart, was quite taken with.... the silver jacket!  "I'm obsessed with this jacket," he said.  "It's very McQueen," he added.  Okay, I don't know if that's total BS, but I loved him for saying it! 

Model: Polina Muwali

Photos: Randy Brooke

So now, I've got three people fighting over one jacket and one of them happens to be a guy!  Looks like I'll just have to do a production run on this piece, doesn't it?  Maybe you guys will actually see this in Barney's someday soon.  Here's hoping!!